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Senior girls on their way to California

August 02, 2001 12:00 am

By GERRY STEELE

Of the Baker City Herald

The Baker senior girls softball all-stars would probably do well betting on the horses in Las Vegas. The Baker girls earned a trifecta Wednesday when they won their third straight tournament championship.

After earlier winning district and state titles, the Baker 11 rolled through the Division I tournament at Great Falls, Mont., Wednesday, capping its third tournament win with a 4-2 victory over Washington in the title game.

We won, said Baker coach Kathy Taylor, through a hoarse voice by telephone after the game.

I dont think its really hit any of us yet, she said. But the girls played fantastic.

As they have in every tournament, Baker combined timely hitting, solid defense and dominating pitching to defeat Washington.

Neither team scored through three innings Wednesday. Then, after shutting down Washington in the top of the fourth, Baker broke the scoring ice in the bottom of the inning.

Baker converted six hits and four stolen bases into four runs in the inning.

Rachel Hill opened the inning with a double. She advanced to third on a single by Mogan Shira. Shira then stole second.

Amanda Cribbs then grounded into a fielders choice with Hill getting tagged out at the plate. Lauren Robbins then scored Shira with an RBI single. Cribbs went to third on the play.

Then, after Robbins stole second, Julie Lovisone drove Cribbs home with another single. Lovisone then stole second before Kaela Curtis doubled home Robbins.

Lovisone scored the final run on an RBI single by Erin Brookshire. Brookshire then stole second, but the next two Baker hitters went out to end the rally.

As they have in every tournament game, Amanda Moutsanides and Lovisone combined to shut down Bakers opponent. Moutsanides allowed one hit, struck out one and walked one in four innings. Lovisone allowed two hits and two runs, walked two and struck out one in the final three innings.

Washington made its final bid in the top of the seventh when it scored both of its runs. Washington combined two singles, two walks and a passed ball to score.

But the rally was cut short when Brookshire, Bakers catcher, threw out one runner trying to steal third, and another attempting to steal second.

Curtis and Brookshire each had two hits in Bakers nine-hit attack.

Baker now advances to the regional tournament beginning Sunday in Hawthorne, Calif.

Bakers first game is Sunday at 5:30 p.m. against the Division III champion from Southern California.